I've been working on my 89 244 for a little over a week now, and it seems to be running well---starts right up, no smoke, runs smoothly (even better now with a clean throttle body) and seems to be getting good mileage, but it doesn't seem to have as much power as it should. This car won't get out of it's own way. My previous Volvo, an 88 745 with the same engine (B230F) same gearing, (manual trans, 3.31 rear) and about 200 lbs HEAVIER would run away and hide from it, and I suspect it would have a tough time beating a Mercedes 240D in a drag race. It's that slow!!! On the way home tonight I did a speed run, and it would hardly go over 80, in either 4th or 5th gear. Nor will it lug around effortlessly like the 745 would. I checked the compression today, and it was strong and even---160, 160, 160, 155, and they all hit just over 100 on the first stroke. The plugs (NGK BP6ES) looked as good as any I've ever seen---clean white insulator, dark gray on the body and the ground electrode, all four were identical. Air filter is new. I don't think it's the fuel filter, as it doesn't sputter and miss when revved hard. It doesn't feel or sound like the exhaust is obstructed. The brakes aren't dragging. The clutch isn't slipping. It just doesn't have any power.

Why won't this car get out of it's own way???

Is there THAT much of a difference between 88 LH 2.2 and 89 LH 2.4?

Is there something wrong that I haven't though of? What could it be?